Marcella Santos excited to bring her Brazilian flair to the NPL

After Marcella Santos led UNSW to the 2023 League One Club Championship, the star forward is eager for the new challenge that awaits playing in the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW Competition.

Santos was instrumental to the side’s promotion charge, scoring 21 goals as the team’s top scorer.

“I’m very happy to be the golden boot for this team for two years and get promoted.”

The 29-year-old originally came to Australia to improve her English but was surprised by the standard of soccer here in New South Wales.

“I just came here to study English to be honest with you, but then I just realised the soccer here is good.”

Impressing on the futsal court with Mascot Vipers, her Brazilian skills caught the eye of UNSW who approached her to support their lofty ambitions.

“UNSW just sent me this contract saying we need you to get promoted and I was happy to help.”

Santos has learnt to adjust her technical Brazilian style to the Australian direct, athletic approach.

“It’s different, because in Brazil we like to play with more touches, we don’t like to kick the ball a lot.

“Here, I think the people are more fit, they care more about fitness but in Brazil the people are more skilled players.”

Off-season shoulder surgery means we will have to wait a little longer to see Santos in National Premier Leagues Women’s action, but she expects to return in just a few more weeks.

With UNSW’s promotion comes new coach Pat McCann who has assembled a young and talented side that Santos is very keen to play alongside.

“I think all the group is more focussed now because we’re going to play at a higher level.

“The team looks a lot more professional, and we have a lot of faster players.

“I just need to keep this intensity [from previous seasons] like being a leader for the team, helping the younger girls because I know that I’m important to help these girls to be doing good on the field.”

Especially inspiring for the Brazilian was the opportunity to see her country feature at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, an event which she believes will help inspire more international players to travel to our shores.

“Because of the World Cup I think Australia will have more visibility so the players will come to play NPL or A-Leagues.”

Santos remains incredibly grateful for the opportunities provided by UNSW to play football here in New South Wales, and is determined to be back playing on the field as quick as possible.

“I’m so happy to be in Australia and to be one of the Brazilians playing NPL.

“I feel so glad for the opportunity that UNSW gave me to show all my football.”

-By Annabelle Banfield